Saturday, September 11, 2010

Bill Hader was one of the many participants in last night's fundraiser special, "Stand Up To Cancer". During the telecast, Hader reprised his impression of Richard Branson. Photos of his arrival and Richard Branson after the jump.

Seth Meyers, continuing his flirtation with the idea of becoming a fashionista, was in attendance at last night's Fashion's Night Out event thrown by Prada. He was pictured with Dakota Fanning, whose young adult-ness is very disconcerting for me, Jessica Szhor and Vogue artistic director Grace Coddington.Photos after the jump.

Friday, September 10, 2010

As you know, Seth Meyers and other as-yet-unannounced SNL cast members will be participating in a panel entitled "Live From New York" on October 3 at this year's New Yorker Festival. Tickets for all events can be purchased from here from 12PM ET on. Don't delay in buying your tickets - I bet they'll sell like hot cakes!

Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownsteinheld a press conference in Portland on Friday for their upcoming IFC series, "Portlandia". The two went to great lengths to assure Portland natives that the joke won't be on the town, but rather on themselves. It was also revealed that stars like Jason Sudeikis, Heather Graham and Steve Buscemi as well as the previously announced Kyle McLachlan and Aubrey Plaza.The series "satirizing such alternative-culture types as the owners of a feminist book store, a bike messenger, a punk-rock couple, and an arty duo obsessed with putting little cut-outs of birds on anything they lay their hands on", will feature short films each week and some recurring characters. However, Armisen stated that the series would not be limited to humour or hipster images, going so far as to say, "We don't even know if it's necessarily comedy."

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Discovery Bay Games and Broadway Video Enterprises are excited to announce that Saturday Night Live– The Game is now on shelves. The new board game, which celebrates the show’s 35th Anniversary, is currently available nationwide at Walmart, Kmart and Toys “R” Us and will be available later this fall at Barnes & Noble, Borders, Macy’s, Hastings, and other fine retailers.

Saturday Night Live – The Game features a mix of SNL-inspired activities that will get players acting, improvising, guessing, and laughing out loud. Players customize each game by choosing cards from the SNL eras they know best (1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s). Discovery Bay’s development team, led by Cranium veterans Marisa Peña, Aleen Adams, and Shannon Lyon, worked directly with an SNL writer and included many of the funniest moments from the show’s 35 year history.

To build awareness for Saturday Night Live – The Game, Discovery Bay Games enlisted Smashing Ideas to design and develop a unique website (www.saturdaynightlivethegame.com) to encourage board game fans and fans of SNL alike to sample the game. The site includes an interactive timeline that spans all 35 years of the show as well as E-Cards featuring famous SNL characters that consumers can send to their friends with quotes of their own. On the website, fans can also enter for a chance to win a host of sweepstakes’ prizes including:Saturday Night Live – The Game features a mix of SNL-inspired activities that will get players acting, improvising, guessing, and laughing out loud. Players customize each game by choosing cards from the SNL eras they know best (1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s). Discovery Bay’s development team, led by Cranium veterans Marisa Peña, Aleen Adams, and Shannon Lyon, worked directly with anSNL writer and included many of the funniest moments from the show’s 35 year history.

100 copies of Saturday Night Live – The Game

35 “Party Night” packages that include PopChips and Dry Soda, a copy of Saturday Night Live – The Game, and Saturday Night Live DVDs from Broadway Video

One trip for two to New York City for the Saturday Night Live – The Game launch party event

One Grand Prize – an all-expense paid trip for two to New York City for a VIP backstage tour of the SNL Studio at 30 Rock and tickets to see Saturday Night Live!

“Developing this multi-activity game has been an incredibly fun and rewarding experience for all of us,” said Craig Olson, CEO of Discovery Bay Games. “Saturday Night Live – The Game really translates the hilarity of SNL into an amazing play experience. The game is the perfect gift for anyone who loves SNL – or just loves games!”

“We are really happy with what Discovery Bay Games created,” said Britta von Schoeler, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Broadway Video Enterprises. “The game stays true to the show’s history and allows people to bring its energy into their homes.”

Saturday Night Live, which debuted in October 1975, is the most Emmy-nominated show in television history with 126 nominations, has been honored twice with the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award, and is regarded as a truly national institution. The show has launched the careers of many of the brightest comedic talents of their respective generations.

Check out this great interview with Doug Abeles conducted by the good people at Gawker. He describes how he got hired at SNL, the process of submitting jokes to WU, dress rehearsal and offers some sagely words of wisdom for aspiring comedy writers.

SNL's legendary announcer Don Pardo will return to SNL but will record his voiceovers from a studio in Tucson, instead of flying to New York. His daughter Dona Pardo said that Pardo, now 92, had debated not going back but opted to record from Tucson instead. In the past, Pardo has recorded from Tucson when he hasn't felt up to travelling or has been grounded due to bad weather and sent the announcements to NBC electronically.

But, Lorne Michaels is said to like having Pardo around and according to Jeff Davis who records Pardos introductions in Tucson, "Lorne sees Don as a good-luck charm."

Pardo has worked at NBC for 60 years, announcing shows from Caesar's Hour to The Price is Right and Jeopardy! In January, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences inducted Pardo into its Hall of Fame.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

The Washington Post reported Jay Pharoah's hiring to SNL last night and got to share a few words with the man himself. The Virginia native reportedly got noticed by SNL when they discovered an audition tape of his that had been floating around for a year or so. Pharoah kept mum on a lot of questions revealing only, ""I'm known for impressions and family stories." The inevitable question of whether he would take over as SNL's resident Obama came up to which Pharoah replied, ""I just got here. I'm just trying to fit in. I don't know what's going to happen." Very coy, Pharoah, very coy!His tone was markedly more excited on Facebook where he posted -

"I've been quiet about this bit hey they announced it. Im on SNL baby and thank you all!!!! I couldn't talk about it yall get it?"

Pharoah will make his debut on SNL along with Vanessa Bayer, Paul Brittain and Taran Killam when SNL returns September 25.

Seth Meyers attended Fashion's Night out in NYC last night i.e the largest public fashion show in New York's History. Why was Meyers there you ask? According to the Los Angeles Times, it was because of his recent appearance in Vogue's September issue. “No really,” he insisted. “I’m in the table of contents. They tell me that’s the best place to be.” When asked whether or not he was excited to attend a 150-model runway show, Meyers said, "I usually don’t get excited until it’s 180 or 190 models."

And just what was Meyers wearing at one of the fashion events of the year? A Woolrich John Rich & Bros button down shirt and dark wash denim. Classy!

In an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Franco reveals that Oscilloscope has picked up the rights for Saturday Night and its currently eying a limited release in February. Saturday Night is a behind-the-scenes look at a week in SNL. Franco hung out backstage during the week of the John Malkovich show and captured the ups and downs of a week at the show. Very excited for this - hope it gets a speedy DVD release too!

Deadline's Nellie Andreeva is reporting that Jenny Slate may not be returning this season. Apparently, Abby Elliott was in serious jeopardy but now looks safe to return for this season at least. Slate joined the cast of SNL last season along with Nasim Pedrad and in that time got one recurring character, Tina Tina Chaneuse, on the air and made headlines when she dropped an F-bomb in her first episode. Slate was also featured in great sketches like Pageant Talk, Some Big Shot and Team Edward vs Team Jacob.

Obviously we'll have to wait for a confirmation from NBC or someone at the show, but for now, it seems as though we won't be seeing Slate in the opening credits come September 25.

Monday, September 6, 2010

The poster to the right is a teaser poster for Jack Johnson's upcoming video At Or With Me in which Andy Samberg is set to appear. You may remember that Andy Samberg has previously impersonated Jack Johnson in "The Mellow Show" on SNL. Now the two will come face to face when the video for At Or With Me is released September 17.

Jack Johnson spoke about with GQ and you can read what he had to say here.

I forgot to post about this, but NBC is releasing A Very Gilly Christmas on DVD October 12. It's the special that aired last year and features some of the best Christmas-oriented sketches ever to have been featured on SNL.

Pages

About Me

My life as a TV pitch -
"While all the other kids are out getting up to mischief, Amy stays indoors watching PBS documentaries and clips of Furry Vengeance, wondering if Brendan Fraser will ever get his act together."
19. Laughing & writing are my favourite things.